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The Google Pixel 8 got announced alongside its ‘Pro’ sibling today, October 4. The Pixel 8 is a compact flagship smartphone from Google, and the difference in size between the vanilla and ‘Pro’ models is more pronounced this time around. The Pixel 7 was not exactly that much smaller than the ‘Pro’ variant, which is not the case with the Pixel 8. It does bring forth some notable improvements, as expected, though it looks rather similar to last year’s Android device. There’s plenty to talk about here, so let’s get going.
Google Pixel 8 specs
The Google Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Actua display. That is an LTPS OLED panel. Its refresh rate can jump from 60 to 120Hz. The Gorilla Glass Victus protects this panel, and it’s flat. It’s also quite bright at 2,000 nits at its peak, noticeably brighter than the Pixel 7’s. The Google Tensor G3 fuels the Pixel 8, while Google included 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage, which is not expandable. The Titan M2 security coprocessor is also included here.
You will find a 4,575mAh battery inside the Pixel 8. The phone supports charging at 27W, that goes for both wired and wireless charging, by the way. Google recommends its 30W charger, which does not come included in the box, but you don’t have to use it. The phone supports PD 3.0 (PPS) charging. It also supports ‘Battery Share’, so you can wirelessly charge other phones with it.
A 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.68 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, 82-degree FoV, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, OIS + EIS) sits on the back, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 125.8-degree FoV). On the front, you’ll find a 10.5-megapixel snapper (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size, 95-degree FoV, fixed focus). Spectral and flicker sensors are included on the back.
Android 14 comes pre-installed on the phone, while Google promises 7 years of software updates. 5G is supported, as is Wi-Fi 7. The phone includes an optical fingerprint scanner, but it also supports facial scanning via the front-facing camera. Stereo speakers are included, and Spatial Audio is supported. You also get Bluetooth 5.3 support here.
How much does the Google Pixel 8 costs?
The Google Pixel 8 got announced in two storage variants, 128GB and 256GB models. Both of those models include 8GB of RAM, so we have two different price tags. The phone starts at $699, it’s $100 more expensive than its predecessor, the Pixel 7. The 256GB storage option is priced at $749, in case you were wondering.
Where can I buy the Google Pixel 8?
You’ll be able to buy the Google Pixel 8 at all of the usual places. That goes for both the carriers and the retailers. The list is included below, we’ll be adding links as they become available.
– Google Store
– Amazon
– AT&T
– T-Mobile
– Verizon
– Best Buy
Are there any pre-order offers available?
Yes, there are, and they’re not exclusive to Google Store. If you pre-order the Pixel 8, you can get get a free pair of the Pixel Buds Pro. This offer is valid for purchasing through the Google Store, Amazon, Best Buy, and even some carriers.
What carriers does it work on?
The Google Pixel 8 will basically work on all US carriers. So, it will work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and their MVNOs as well. Including Visible, US Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket, and more.
What colors does the Google Pixel 8 come in?
The Google Pixel 8 comes in three color variants. Google announced Hazel, Obsidian, and Rose color options. The Hazel color variant is basically a gray Pixel 8, while the Obsidian model is black-colored. The Rose color represents a pink variant of the phone. Those are seemingly the only colors Google opted for this time around, at least for the time being.
What countries is it available in directly from Google?
As far as North America is concerned, it is available in both the US and Canada. When it comes to Europe, here’s the list: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and the UK. You’ll also be able to get it in the APAC area, including Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.
What new upgrades does the Pixel 8 have over the Pixel 7?
So, the Google Pixel 8 does look very similar to its predecessor. Google obviously improved it, though, so what are the upgrades that it delivers? Well, we’ll go over the main ones below, so read on.
More powerful SoC
The Google Tensor G2 is not exactly the most powerful processor around, and that was the case when it launched too. It doesn’t have the edge in terms of sheer power or power efficiency compared to competition from Qualcomm. The same was the case with the Tensor G1. Well, the Tensor G3 is a major improvement on paper, even though it’s still close to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Based on what we can see, though, it’s a considerable step forward compared to the Tensor G2, but bigger than the Tensor G2 was compared to the Tensor G1. Not only is it expected to offer a performance boost, but also be noticeably better with power consumption.
A 120Hz display, finally
The Google Pixel 8 comes with a 120Hz AMOLED display, finally. This is still not an LTPO panel as is on the Pixel 8 Pro, it’s an LTPS display (60-120Hz refresh rate). That’s still good enough, at least we’re no longer stuck on a 90Hz panel that was included in the last two generations of vanilla Pixel flagships.
Brighter than ever
In addition to having a 120Hz display, the Google Pixel 8 also has a brighter display than its predecessor. The Google Pixel 7 capped out at 1,400 nits of brightness at its peak, the Pixel 8 goes all the way up to 2,000 nits. That’s not the highest brightness in the market, of course, but it’s still a major improvement. 2,000 nits can be reached via the automatic setting only, by the way, so keep that in mind.
7 years of software support
Google is planning to provide major 7 years of OS updates to the Pixel 8. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about 7 years of software support, but OS updates. So, not only will the Pixel 8 get 7 years of security updates, but 7 years of major OS updates, and feature drops. Even though Google confirmed that at this point, it’s still hard to believe, but it’s a good thing, of course. That basically means you’ll be getting updates until the year 2030, for those of you who are keeping count.
Battery gains
The Google Pixel 7 arrived with a 4,355mAh battery. Well, the Google Pixel 8 pushes that to 4,575mAh. That’s a 220mAh improvement. Do note that the Pixel 8 also has a slightly smaller display, despite the fact it has a higher refresh rate. Still, the larger battery in combination with the new SoC, should be able to boost the battery life of the device compared to its predecessor. We should see a rather noticeable difference.
Improved camera hardware
Not only does the Google Pixel 8 has a new main camera sensor, but it also comes with some ultrawide camera improvements. Google is using the ISOCELL GN2 sensor this time around. It’s a successor to the ISOCELL GN1 it used in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7. That is a 50-megapixel camera. The ultrawide camera is now wider at 125.8-degree FoV, compared to the 114-degree FoV the Pixel 7 offered. ‘Macro Focus’ feature is now also available, and more.
Smaller & lighter
The Google Pixel 8 is both smaller and lighter than its predecessor. Why is this an advantage? Well, the Pixel 7 was too close to the size of the Pixel 7 Pro. Many people argued that only one of the two phones should exist. Well, Google decided to make that difference a bit more noticeable, so that the users who actually want a more compact phone can get one. The Pixel 8 is shorter, narrower, and also 10 grams lighter than its predecessor, despite the fact it has a larger battery.
What cases are available for the Google Pixel 8?
Google announced a single official case for the Pixel 8, though it does come in a number of colors. This case is designed with “42% recycled materials”, and it feels like soft silicone to the touch, says Google. It comes in Charcoal, Coral, Hazel, and Mint colors. The case is priced at $29.99, as was the Pixel 7 case. You can check out this case in all color variants in the gallery below.
Should I buy the Google Pixel 8?
We cannot exactly give you a yes or no answer to this question, of course. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a device, and what device you currently own. Considering you’re thinking of getting the Pixel 8, I’ll assume you want a more compact flagship-grade phone. If you also want stock software on top of that, or something close to it, the ASUS ZenFone 10 is another phone you should consider, just to give you some options. The Pixel 8 does deliver a more powerful SoC than its predecessor, and it’s more compact, not to mention that it has an even better camera setup, and a better and brighter display. The Pixel 8 seems like a good choice for a compact flagship, at least on paper, though it’s not exactly cheap, so… there’s a lot to consider here.